The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 374

eh. xiii. 7. (On the "ne.mes ef bhtsphemy," of the Church, though nominally Ohristian, as signifying opposition to and rivalry with is in reality identical with the world, which G~ see on eh. xiii l.) The ,e,,en kead, is openly antagonistic to God. Indeed, the denote universality of (earthly) dominion. ll\tter portion of the verse goes even further and the tm lwrna denote plenitude of power than this. This faithless (though outwardly (see on eh. xiii. 1). Christian) portion of Christ's Church is the Ver. 4.-And the woman ,ru arrayed in mother, that is, the cause of the existence of purple and 11Carlet colour. These wordl, unfaithfulneBB to God. So true is it that taken in connection with those that follow, the professing Christian who is worldly seem to signify the worldly magnificence mirnfed does more to cause in others dis- whieh may be the portion of the faithless obedience and unfaithfnlneBB to God, than Christian. Some writers see an allusion to he who openly declares himself in opposition the pwple robe of Christ. (On the mean• to God, and even persecutes the faithful; ing oi" scarlet," see on ver. 3.) And decked of. the words to the Church in Laodicea, with gold and precious· stones and pearls ; "I would thou wert cold or hot" (eh. ilL gilded. t»ith, etc. Similar descriptions are 15). (On "AUOIIINATlONB 01' THB IIABTJI," given in Ezek. xvi. 13 and :uviiL rn. aee on ver. 4-.) · Compare the description in eh. xxi. 11. Ver. 6.-And I saw the woman drunken This aooount is sufficiently characteri~tio of with the blood of the aa.inis, and ,nth the the world's attractions to need no comment. blood of the martyra of J'esna; of the toa- Having a golden cup in her hand full of nesses (cf. oh. xi. 7). Another point of con- abominations and filthine11 of her fornica- trast between this tDOman and the woman tion ; full of abomination,, even th8 unclean of eh. xii.; the former persecutes, the laU.er things of, et.c. (Revised Version), the Autlio- is persecuted. It may be aaked-How can rized Version reading being placed in the these words be applied to. profeBBing Chris- margin. Another reference to Jer. Ii. 7 tians, as they mu&t be, if such .be the inter- (of. e.lso eh. xiT. 10). Abomina.tiom~ are pretation of the "harlot " ? The answer all things that are disple11Bing to God. may be found in Jeremiah. In. Jer. ii. 33, (On "fornication," see on eh. xiv. 8 and 84 and iii. 1-11 we find the origin of this ob. · xvii. 1, 2: it signifiElll unfaithfulneas r.assage. Judah is a harlot (Jer. ii. 20; towards God.) iii. 1, 8) with a sign upon her forehead Ver. 5.-Aa.d upon her forehead waa (Jer. iii. 3), who 0811868 transgression in a name writtan. Omit "wu." •ovoµc&, oth<>rs (Jer. ii. SS; and compare above, " name," is dependent upon txovqa, "Mother of harlots"), and in whose ... skirts "having," in ver. 4,. This practice waa is found the blood of the 1ouls of the poor 01.111tomary with harlots (Juv., 'Sat.,• vi. innocents" (Jer. ii. 34). She ia clothed iD 123 ; Seneoa, • Controv.,• i. 2). In eh. xiv. crimson (Jer. iv. SO) and golden ornament.I 1 and vii. S the faithful members of God's (cf. eh. xvii. 4-); her lovers will despise her Ohn:rob ha,ie his Name in their f(lreheads; (Jer. iv. SO) fl.nd seek her life (et:. ob. xvii. here the faithlea ones, represented by the 16). Just 68 it was declared that in Judah harlot, exhibit a spurious imitation. As was found the blood of the innocent poor, God's Name marked the former as his, ro so here we are told that the faithless part the name ·Babylon, etc., marks the latter 68 of the Church is guilty of the blood of the belonging to the world (see on eh. xvi 19; saints. The reason is found in the inscrip- :nil. 5 ; xviii. 2). Tbe name consists of tion. The harlot is absolutely identified the words fitllowiog, to the end of the verse. with Babylon. No distinction in guilt can :KYSTERY, ·BABYLON TD GREAT, THE be allowed between the openly hostile world :IIOTHJm OJ' HARLOTS AND AB0JIUIU- and the faithless Christian. "He that is TIOliS OF THE EARTH. The word. not with me," God declares, " is againsl; "MYSTWRY,. may be (I) part of the name, me " (Matt. xii. 20). The description 1tanding co-ordinately with "BABYLON• "drunken with," etc., is Bimilar to that of (Alford, Bleek, Hengstenberg, Yitriuga, Babylon in eh. xviii. 2; and a.1so in Jar. IL Wordsworth); (2) a description of the fol- 7. And when I saw her, I wondered with lowing title, being thus in apposition with great admiration ; 'll!ith a great "'°""'8r 6voµa, "name" (A.uberlin, De Watte, Dfis.. (Revised Version). Probably because the terdieck, Ebrard); (S) a.u adverb 'used in seer can scarcely realize ,hat eome who a.re the same sense !18 in the last ooae (Stuart). professing Christians must be held guilty of Whichever view be taken, there ca.n be no auch enormities; that the harlot, represenfl,. doubt that the purpose is to draw attention ing a portion of the Church, fa.ithlllSS even to the fact whioh is contained in the follow- though it be, should be classed with tli,t ing words-a fact which might otlierwise be world, aa represented by Babylon and tlMt exceedingly difficult to receive. For the beast. Perhaps the wonder is caused !Jt rest of the verse asserts that the harlot ii the fact that such e. thing should .e~8l' be Babylon; that ill, that the WQrldly portion permitted to be: this lo1Lding t;o the follow- U6 ·rm: REVELATION OF ST. JOHN TBE DIVINE. [OH. xvxi. 1-18.